left: Zehra Khan (photo: Patricia Carney) ⁇ right: Nasir Mansoor (photo: Sina Marx)
The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), which entered into force on 1 January 2023, requires companies to ensure compliance with labour rights in their value chains. One year after the entry into force of the law, members of the Pakistani trade unions NTUF and HBWWF will come to Germany to discuss which human rights are still not being implemented in the value chains of German companies.
© Initiative Supply Chain Act
Assessment of the Supply Chain Act initiative on the agreement on the EU Supply Chain Act of 15. December 2023
It is a milestone in protecting people and the environment in global supply chains: In a 16-hour marathon meeting yesterday, the EU Commission, Council and Parliament agreed on the EU Supply Chain Act. But what exactly will change with it? We took a closer look at the compromise.
© FEMNET
Regular trips by FEMNET employees to our partners in the Southeast Asian production countries ensure that our projects have a local impact. The direct exchange with representatives of trade unions and organisations on the ground gives us important insights and assessments into the developments of the sector, and project projects can be launched according to jointly planned goals. The visit of foreign coordinator Daniela Wawrzyniak and Aika-Maresa Fischbeck, consultant for foreign projects and campaign work, to Dhaka at the end of October 2023 became a reality check: The trip took both of them right into the middle of the current wage negotiations in the textile industry.
© FEMNET
At the end of a one-year pilot project on eco-fair workwear, the cities of Krefeld and Dormagen, together with FEMNET, invited regional suppliers to exchange ideas. The practice-oriented program and the triad of regional specialist retailers, manufacturers and municipalities received a lot of positive feedback from all sides.
© BCWS
On the 10th. In December 1948, the United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but even after 75 years, human rights are still being violated worldwide. Particularly in Bangladesh's garment sector, enforcing the right to a safe workplace remains a challenge. For this reason, FEMNET supports a groundbreaking pilot the Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), which aims to improve the working conditions of workers by introducing occupational accident insurance.
© Eva Beyer
Joint press release by FEMNET , ECCHR and Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
Berlin, Bonn, Karachi. New research by Pakistani trade unions National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and HomeBased Women Worker’s Federation (HBWWF) and the German human rights organisations FEMNET and ECCHR show that even the minimum wage is often not paid in the supply chains of German companies: The report: "No contracts, no rights: How the fashion industry is cheating its workers on minimum wages Exposes alarming labour rights violations in textile factories in Pakistan that have been ongoing for years and calls for immediate action by fashion brands. The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), which entered into force on 1 January 2023, requires companies to ensure compliance with labour rights in their value chains. For this reason, the authors of the study informed those companies named by the workers surveyed, which are covered by the new law, about the labour rights violations committed by their producers in Pakistan. While many of the brands have not yet taken effective action, the law has been instrumental in ensuring that some companies now take responsibility for their due diligence obligations.
© Scukrov - iStockphotos.com
Joint press release from FEMNET and Global Nature Fund (GNF)
Bonn. The German health sector contributes significantly to the environmental impact and is responsible for a considerable 5 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions. A critical analysis shows that about 60 percent of these emissions are caused by the prescription of drugs and another 23 percent by the purchasing sector. This also includes work clothes and bed linen. The Fair Wear Works project by FEMNET and the Global Nature Fund (GNF) starts right here and offers demand-oriented workshops for healthcare institutions.
© NGWF
Joint press release by FEMNET, SÜDWIND Institute, INKOTA network and HEJSupport
The recently set minimum wage in Bangladesh for garment workers at 12,500 taka per month (106 euros) continues to lead to protests and riots. Workers are deliberately injured, abducted, wrongfully charged, imprisoned, imprisoned or even killed. However, there has been no concrete support for the trade unions' demands for a higher minimum wage from purchasing companies so far. Until 26.11.2023 is now the last opportunity to take an effective position.
© Anastasia Shuraeva - Pexels.com
Joint press release from Global Nature Fund and FEMNET
Fair Wear Works and Sporthandel Fair call on sports clubs to turn Black Friday into Fair Friday and to discount only sustainably produced fan articles. FC St. Pauli leads by example and participates in Fair Friday. The ‘Fair Wear Works’ project supports sports clubs and regional sports associations in making their textile purchases sustainable.
Deniz Köksal presents his module on occupational safety. © FEMNET
At FEMNET, we aim to continuously integrate new topics with our educational work at schools and universities and to respond to current developments. At this year's speaker training in Cologne, insights into a whole range of topics were offered.
© CCC
Joint press release by FEMNET and the Clean Clothes Campaign
Bonn/Berlin. The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday set the new minimum wage for the country's 4.4 million garment workers at 12,500 taka per month (106 euros). The amount is far below the 23,000 taka demanded by trade unions. According to studies, this amount is necessary for a decent life in Bangladesh. Although many fashion brands say they are committed to living wages, few support the unions' demand. For workers in the garment sector, the new minimum wage means that they will continue to struggle to survive and will be forced to work excessive overtime, take out loans, skip meals or even send their children to work instead of school.
Within the framework of the Multi-stakeholder partnership for gender-responsive occupational health and safety in the textile and footwear industry in India and Indonesia We will be hosting on the 23rd. Nov. A second dialogue forum in 2023, to which we cordially invite you!
